Apple Product Placement Reaches New Heights in Netflix Show 'House of Cards'

Engadget notes that there appears to be a somewhat extreme example of Apple product placement in an episode of the new made-for-Netflix show House of Cards.

The site points out that the shot shown above, occurring 31 minutes and 42 seconds into episode six, appears to show nine Apple devices between just two people.

Quote:

Just taking the devices that are angled towards Underwood, I count three iPads and three iPhones. The aide sitting across the desk adds two more iPhones and another iPad. I could potentially be wrong about a couple of those handsets, since they're in cases, but I've watched the scene in slow-mo they all look like iPhones to me. That makes nine Apple devices for two people, with each device powered on and burning its battery simultaneously.

The piece goes on to note that the main character, played by Kevin Spacey, uses an iMac as his main computer, while his wife also uses an iPhone.

According to an update on the original article, sources involved in the shooting of the scene shared that Apple provided a significant amount of free equipment for the show and that those devices were what happened to be available for a scene in which characters were monitoring multiple police radio feeds.

Apple's products have long been featured in movies and television shows, despite Apple's claims that the company does not pay for such placements. The company does, however, provide free devices for product placement, and Apple's popularity and design aesthetic have led many films and shows to take advantage of such offers.

House of Cards is the first program to be commissioned by the streaming movie and TV show service for exclusive broadcast on Netflix.

It really is a great show. I'm on episode 6 already. Kevin Spacey nails it. But the Apple product placement is too much. If they want this to be realistic, at least throw some other vendors in. Though I did see a union head throw what appeared to be a Blackberry against the wall in a hissy fit

Even though I love Apple there are just too many of their products in this show. It almost feels like an Apple ad and they don't even bother covering up the logos like in other shows. To be fair they are not shy about other product placement as well, the way underwood (avid gamer) reacts to PS Vita is just outright advertising

btw the show is just fantastic all the way to the last episode - releasing the whole season in one day is another great thing about it

It really is a great show. I'm on episode 6 already. Kevin Spacey nails it. But the Apple product placement is too much. If they want this to be realistic, at least throw some other vendors in. Though I did see a union head throw what appeared to be a Blackberry against the wall in a hissy fit

In many scenes, particularly later in the show, Spacey uses what looks like a blackberry (physical keyboard).

It's a different device for a reason that serves the plot elements of the show.

They don't need "Diversity" of placement ,tehy are being realistic.

Most people who have an iPhone use the iPhone all the time- so of course if the main character has an iPhone that's waht you'll see them using.

__________________Apple is, as always, dragging them kicking and screaming into the future. They hate it now, but when Apple replaces it, they'll be claim it was great.